All About Ireland
Hi friends! I recently had the chance to live and play professional basketball in Ireland. I lived about 30 minutes outside of Dublin in the small town of Leixlip I lived in Ireland for a little over 3 months and was able to explore the beautiful country. I thoroughly enjoyed the hustle and bustle of Dublin but also loved to get outside and take in all the greenery. Most people do not realize how small Ireland actually is. Since it is such a small country, it makes traveling within the country fairly quick and easy.
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the weather. Believe it or not, I did not own an umbrella the WHOLE time I lived there. It poured at times but it was more of a steady drizzle a lot of the time which can get annoying. I only got caught in a down pour once and I had my heavy duty raincoat. Rain or shine, I loved getting to explore Ireland. Below is a guide that includes some of the best places to visit and see while visiting Ireland. Happy reading!
Dublin:
Tour the Guinness Storehouse:
Whether you like Guinness or not the Guinness Storehouse tour is a must. The ticket includes admission and a complimentary Guinness at one of their restaurants. Buy online in advance to save time waiting in lines and a bit of money.
Pictured: my first Guinness at the Gravity Bar (a 360 view of Dublin)
Get close and personal with the wild deer in phoenix Park:
located on the outskirts of the city this park has wild deer roaming throughout and let me tell ya, the deer are not bashful at all.
Check out the famous Temple Bar:
September 2019
(on the left)
vs.
December 2019
(on the right)
No matter what time of the year you visit Dublin, you cannot beat visiting the Temple Bar. Located in the “Temple Bar” area, it is tucked away on a street full of life. This is one of the most touristy spots in Ireland for a reason: good music, good drinks and good company.
Shop on Grafton Street:
Enjoy the hustle and bustle of life in the city. This street is always buzzin’. Whether it’s business men and woman walking to and from work, tourists shopping, or locals just strolling through the city, Grafton Street is always the place to be. Don’t be fooled by the gorgeous donut picture, donuts in Ireland just aren’t the same. Save your money (and the calories)! LOL
Walk through St. stephen’s Green:
Located just across the way from Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green is a sneaky hideaway right in the middle of the city with all of the greenery. Catch many locals eating lunch outside (on a nice day of course) or using it as a cut through to get to and from work.
Visit Trinity College and See the Book of Kells:
I visited the Trinity College Library and toured the Long Room. You can book your ticket easily ahead of time online and prices are currently discounted due to the Book of Kells not being on display. The Book of Kells is not currently on display due to ongoing conservation efforts. It will be back on display again in March 2020.
Tour the Jameson Distillery on Bow Street:
If whiskey is your thing, then you can’t pass up the chance to visit the Jameson Distillery where Irish Whiskey is made.
Walk through Anne’s Lane:
just because. This is a lane with hanging umbrellas, a lot like the famous hanging umbrellas in Paris at the Royal Village. It’s a quick stop and a perfect photo opportunity.
Located a quick 30 minute train ride on the Dart from Dublin Connolly Train station, this is the perfect place right outside of the city to get your stunning coastal views. Plus if fish and chips are your thing, they have some of the best fish and chips. There are multiple routes you can choose to hike depending on what you are looking for. We chose a quick but steep hike to the top with views that did not disappoint.
Bull Island:
Bull Island is a short bus or bike ride from the city. Take a stroll along the beach and decide just how far you actually want to go. Start or finish (or do both) with a coffee + lunch at Happy Out, located right on the island for your convenience. On a beautiful weekend, Bull Island is packed.
Bray - Greystones Cliff Walk:
The Dart train will take you from the city to either Bray or Greystones. This walk is a lot like the Howth Cliff Walk, you can choose how far you want to go or if you want to start at Bray or Greystones. If you don’t want to make it all the wya to the Bray Cliff Walk you can stop and do a short hike at Dalkey and Killiney Hill Park.
One of the most iconic spots to eat in Dublin, enjoy a traditional Irish breakfast here straight with baked beans and an Irish coffee. Bewley’s began over 175 years ago. This spot is full of history, fabulous coffee and Irish culture.
A little bit on the fancier side, this is a must splurge type of place. I went here for my Thanksgiving brunch and even though it definitely wasn’t a Thanksgiving meal it was a close second. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The vibe of the restaurant at all hours is fabulous and some place you’ll want to try.
Pictured: A Vanilla Shakerato which is espresso shaken with ice, served in a martini glass! This iced coffee obsessed gal was in love!
Lemon Jelly Café
is one of those cafe’s that are always busy. They have a little bit of everything and no matter what you pick, you can’t go wrong.
Café en Seine
This restaurant has lunch and dinner every day, with brunch offered on the weekends. The ambiance of this quaint restaurant cannot be beaten.
Merchant’s Arch
A typical Irish Pub, this spot is centrally located and has a large menu with something for everyone.
Airbnb:
Hotel:
*Disclaimer: I have not stayed overnight at any of these places in Dublin since I lived here, however, I am recommending these options due to reviews, location and my knowledge of the city. If I were to visit Dublin again, I would choose one of these locations.
Below are a few links that will help you with transportation in and around the city. The leap card is a card where you can load money on to, so if you plan on staying in the city for a few days this will save you money. My motto for public transportation when traveling is: when you’re not sure, ask someone, then ask another person to double check and you should probably ask a third person just in case too!
Galway:
Day trip to the Cliffs of Moher:
The Cliffs of Moher (pronounced MORE) are only about an hour and half from Galway. There are day tours from both Galway and Dublin. We actually had a car so we did it ourselves. We were so lucky to have a clear day to visit the Cliffs of Moher. It actually stormed all day but then let up around 5pm allowing us the perfect window to hit a gorgeous sunset. No matter what you do, this is one place you HAVE TO see when you come to Ireland. Thew views are absolutely breathtaking.
Walk to South Park and Mutton’s Island:
The perfect mini walk on a nice day in Galway. You can take this all the way to Salthill if you want to grab a bite to eat and come back to the city.
Enjoy a true irish night out:
Galway is the place to be for Irish music and an Irish night out. We ate at The King’s Head Bistro (which was delicious) and then enjoyed some traditional Irish music at Tig Cóilí (they have traditional Irish music playing 7 days a week). After that we went to The Quays Pub. The streets are lined with places to go out with everything in walking distance so you are sure to find a spot.
Victoria Hotel Galway
I found this hotel online after searching for the best location and rate in Galway. The bed was so comfy, bathrooms were clean, breakfast buffet was delicious (ask for breakfast to be included if you book direct) and the location was prime. I would definitely recommend staying here.
Northern Ireland:
Did you know that Northern Ireland is actually the UK!?
Titanic Museum:
Check out the famous titanic museum where you can discover the full story of the Titanic.
Go to a Belfast Giant’s Game:
If you are into ice hockey and the timing hits right to see a game, why not!?
Day trip up North:
You won’t want to miss the chance to drive the Causeway Coastal Route and visit some of the coolest places I’ve ever seen. You’ll take a train to Coleraine and then hop on a bus (located at the train station) that will take you to the Giant’s Causeway and Rope Bridge.
GIANT’S CAUSEWAY:
The Giants Causeway is one of the most breathtaking sights in Ireland. This picture shows just a few of the 40,000+ hexagonal-shaped pillars of basalt which were formed over 60 million years ago by a volcanic eruption. It is free to walk down and visit the causeway.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
After the Giant’s Causeway I went to the rope bridge. It is free to walk down to the bridge but you need a ticket to cross the bridge. If you are scared of heights, this probably isn’t the thing for you but then again it’s not that scary!
Dunluce Castle:
The most famous castle of Northern Ireland is worth a visit!
Game of Thrones Tour:
I can’t tell you too much about this since I have never seen the show, however, I do know that a lot of scenes were filmed in northern Ireland if you wanted to see real life Game of Thrones. Visit the Dark Hedges which is the iconic road in the Game of Thrones (so I’ve been told).
Belfast Christmas Market (seasonal):
If you find yourself in Ireland around Christmas time, I highly recommend visiting the Belfast Christmas Market. I had so much fun walking around the market and having the BEST shrimp I’ve ever had in my entire life. No joke - I still dream about it.
Other Places that I Didn’t Get a chance to visit:
Sometimes you just can’t do it all. Below are a list of places that were on my to do list, but I never got a chance to get to it.
Cork
Waterford
Dingle Peninsula
10 Day Ireland Road Trip
Day 1:
Arrive in Dublin
Explore Dublin (see details above on what to do)
Day 2:
Explore and Hike Howth, Bray or Bull Island (see details above)
Day 3:
Travel to Cork by train
Explore Cork
Day 4:
Travel to Kinsale (take a bus from Cork to Kinsale)
Day 5:
Travel to Killarney from Cork via train
Explore Killarney
Day 6:
Explore Killarney National Park
Hike the Gap of Dunloe
Day 7:
Rent a car at the Kerry Airport and drive from Killarney to the Dingle Peninsula
Explore the Dingle Peninsula
Day 8:
Drive from Dingle to the Cliffs of Moher (3 - 3.5 hours)
After you visit the Cliffs you will drive another hour and half to Galway
Experience the night life of Galway
Day 9:
Explore Galway
Day 10:
Drive from Galway to Dublin
Return the rental car at the Dublin Airport and catch your flight back home
Interested in a more tailored and custom Ireland Road Trip?
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As always, all opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience.